Digesting the truth: The role of energy justice in perception of anaerobic digestion plants in Central Europe rural space

Abstract

Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants are integral to the circular economy, yet they are often the subject of significant local controversy, particularly during operation. This contrasts sharply with the acceptance trajectories of other renewables and poses a significant barrier to their broader utilization. To explore the roots of this phenomenon, the present study focused on the significance of selected particular factors related to energy justice. Based on a questionnaire survey (N = 446) in four rural communities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia where AD plants are located, we evaluated how procedural, distributive, and recognition justice shape residents' perceptions of the existence of anaerobic digestion plants in Central Europe conditions. The results of ordinal logistic regression show that procedural justice is the most critical factor for positive perception. Specifically, the perceived opportunity for residents to participate in planning and the operator's responsiveness to subsequent concerns were identified as the most significant predictors of acceptance. Our findings highlight that the continuous improvement of the plant operator's relations with other local groups (municipality, residents, and local business entities) is not an option but a fundamental prerequisite for achieving energy justice in biogas utilization and the integration of AD plants as vital renewable energy sources.